Materials Manager II

Aston Carter; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 115,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401k with Employer Match

Life Insurance

Tuition Assistance

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Aston Carter is seeking a Materials Manager II to lead site-wide materials strategy in a Cleveland, OH manufacturing environment. You will oversee a team of buyers and planners, drive lean initiatives, and ensure alignment of purchasing, planning, and logistics with financial goals.

The role requires hands-on ERP/SAP experience, strong leadership, and proven ability to optimize inventory, reduce costs, and support NPI and ERP transitions. Onsite, with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading materials planning and sourcing in manufacturing.
• Experience implementing lean tools and Kanban in production environments.
• Strong negotiating and contract management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic materials plan aligned with site objectives.
• Support NPI activities and ECN processes related to purchasing and planning.
• Build and maintain a material cost-savings funnel and drive cost reductions.
• Lead sourcing projects and manage total cost of ownership across materials.
• Monitor supplier performance with scorecards and cross-functional teams.
• Publish monthly/annual material metrics aligned to site targets.
• Utilize value stream mapping to reduce waste and optimize inventory.
• Contribute to S&OP to balance demand, supply, and capacity.

Skills

Supply chain management

Materials management

Inventory control

ERP systems (SAP)

Lean / Kanban

Production planning

Negotiation skills

Leadership

Data analysis

Tools

SAP

Job description

Job Title: Materials Manager II

The Materials Manager II leads site-wide materials and supply chain strategy, driving cost-effective sourcing, inventory optimization, and production planning in a highly engineered manufacturing environment. This role owns the development and execution of strategic materials plans, supports new product introductions, and ensures that purchasing, planning, and logistics activities align with operational and financial objectives. The Materials Manager II heads a team of buyers and planners, champions lean and Kanban methodologies, and plays a key role in continuous improvement and ERP-related change initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic materials and supply chain plan that aligns with site objectives and supports overall supply chain performance.
• Support new product development activities and manage the Engineering Change Notice (ECN) process as it relates to purchasing and production planning.
• Build, maintain, and continuously develop a material cost savings funnel in line with operating company objectives, and drive approved cost savings projects through to completion.
• Lead and manage sourcing projects, taking full responsibility for Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) across direct and indirect materials.
• Manage supplier performance using supplier scorecards in collaboration with Supplier Quality Engineering, ensuring quality, delivery, and cost targets are met.
• Measure and report monthly and annual materials goals that support site-level operational and financial targets.
• Use value stream mapping and other lean tools to streamline materials and planning processes, reduce waste, and minimize inventory levels.
• Participate actively in the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process to align demand, supply, and capacity plans.
• Assist in product life cycle analysis for Kanban and ERP, and own the implementation and ongoing management of all direct material Kanban systems.
• Maintain an assertive follow-up system to ensure compliance with plant production schedules and to address material-related issues promptly.
• Own, teach, and manage the execution of Plan for Every Part (PFEP), Every Part Every Interval (EPEI), Optimizers, and other lean production planning tools.
• Understand and manage the impacts of any future system changes on MRP and ERP processes, and help guide the organization through ERP transitions.
• Interface effectively with Management, Supervision, Customer Service, Quality, Finance, Engineering, and Operations to ensure alignment and resolve materials-related issues.
• Evaluate and recommend Make/Buy decisions to optimize cost, capacity, and strategic positioning.
• Negotiate contracts for MRO and indirect materials, as well as major capital purchases, ensuring favorable commercial and contractual terms.
• Collaborate directly with the operating company sourcing group to implement sourcing and cost reduction projects.
• Participate in global, cross-site projects on an as-needed basis, contributing materials management expertise.
• Lead and develop a team of buyers and planners, providing direction, coaching, and support to drive performance and openness to change.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in supply chain management, materials management, and inventory control within a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience with CNC machining operations and materials planning for CNC-related production.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to guide and develop a team and drive change initiatives.
• Experience working through ERP changes and system implementations, with familiarity in SAP or similar ERP systems.
• Strong background in production planning, procurement, logistics, and end-to-end supply chain management.
• Ownership of inventory management utilizing a Kanban system, including implementation and ongoing control.
• Strong knowledge of strategic sourcing methodology and its practical application to direct and indirect materials.
• Advanced negotiation skills with a sound understanding of commercial, regulatory, and intellectual property elements of contracts.
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical abilities for data-driven decision making.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of employees, managers, customers, and suppliers.
• Ability to partner closely with shop floor supervision to execute continuous improvement initiatives.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience using lean tools such as value stream mapping, PFEP, EPEI, and other lean production planning optimizers.
• background in managing supplier performance through scorecards and collaboration with Supplier Quality Engineering.
• Experience participating in S&OP processes and integrating materials planning into broader operational planning.
• Exposure to product life cycle analysis and its impact on Kanban and ERP setups.
• Experience negotiating MRO and indirect material contracts, as well as major capital purchases.
• Ability to work on global, cross-site projects and collaborate with sourcing groups across multiple locations.
• Comfort with adapting to change and leading teams through system implementations and process transformations.

Work Environment

This is a 100% onsite role based in Cuyahoga Heights, OH, operating in an industrial manufacturing environment focused on motion control and power transmission solutions. Standard working hours are approximately 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Materials Manager II leads a team of eight people, including four buyers and four planners, and collaborates closely with operations, engineering, quality, finance, and customer service. The facility supports CNC machining and other advanced manufacturing processes, with ERP systems such as SAP used for planning and materials management. The work environment emphasizes continuous improvement, lean practices, and cross-functional collaboration, offering exposure to a broad range of end markets including factory automation, aerospace, medical, data centers, warehouse operations, alternative energy, and general industrial applications.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Cleveland, OH.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $115000.00 - $145000.00/yr.

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Coverage
• Spending accounts (HSA, Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA)
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• 401k Retirement Plan with Matching Employer Contributions
• Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Paid Leaves
• Tuition Assistance

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Cleveland,OH.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 7, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.